Ford was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer known as pleomorphic liposarcoma, a hard to treat cancer found in the soft, fatty tissue of the body. It first appeared during his scandal-plagued re-election bid in 2014, causing him to end his campaign. After surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy, he announced he was cancer free however a month later doctors found tumors in his bladder. Further chemotherapy failed to stop its spread.

Ford became a media sensation in 2013 after videotape emerged showing the mayor smoking from a crack pipe. At first he denied the existence of such a tape but later backpedaled when police obtained a copy. He later admitted to using the drug.

“Yes, I have smoked crack cocaine,' Ford said at the time. 'But, no, do I? Am I an addict? No. Have I tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors.”

Despite a police investigation, he was never charged. Nevertheless, the scandal was followed by a torrent of calls for him to resign to which he simply, stubbornly refused. Then more accusations of being drunk on the job and drunk driving. He was caught on camera several times reportedly drunk in public and at one point, accusations by a female staffer that he propositioned to perform oral sex on her. In front of live TV cameras he denied the allegation and told reporters, in crude language, that he had plenty of oral sex at home.